The FDA has approved four non-nutritive sweeteners — saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-K and sucralose.

When substituting sweeteners, remember to check the label directions or manufacturer's website for sugar equivalents, preparation tips and other specifications pertaining to that specific sweetener, according to research from the LSU AgCenter and USDA Center for Nutrition.

What Do Dietitians Say?

Diet quality suffers when intakes of nutritive sweeteners exceed 5 percent of total energy, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“Consumers can safely enjoy a limited amount of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners when consumed in a diet that is guided by current federal nutrition recommendations, such as Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Reference Intakes, as well as individual health goals,” the academy says. “Dietetic professionals should provide consumers with science-based information about sweeteners and support research on the use of sweeteners to promote eating enjoyment, optimal nutrition and health.”

Pros and cons of using non-nutritive sweeteners

Do not increase the incidence of dental caries and may even prevent cavities.

Do not affect blood sugars.

Decrease calorie content to food.

Can be used in non-food items to make them taste more pleasurable.

Only require small amount to sweeten foods and beverages.

May aid in weight control.

Here are some of the downsides of using non-nutritive sweeteners:

They may cause an aftertaste.

Limited history of some means not all is known beyond the Accepted Daily Intake.

There is limited research on the safety during pregnancy.

Warning label is required on foods that contain aspartame.

Sweetener or sweet taste may increase appetite.

They may alter metabolism, which could lead to overeating.

Evelyn L. Washington is a nutrition educator with the family-nutrition program at the Terrebonne Parish LSU AgCenter office, 511 Roussell St., Houma. She can be reached at 873-6495 or EWashington@agcenter.lsu.edu.

<p>Sugar, or sucrose, is one of the most widely used ingredients in the foods you buy. All other sweeteners basically are compared to how they stack up against sugar.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><h3>Nutritive vs. Non-Nutritive</h3>
<p>Sugar and other sweeteners like fructose, dextrose, lactose, maltose, honey, corn syrup and concentrated fruit juice sweeteners are called nutritive sweeteners. Sugar alcohols, including sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol and erythritol, also are considered nutritive sweeteners.</p><p>Nutritive sweeteners add energy, or calories, to the diet. Non-nutritive, or artificial, sweeteners don't add energy.</p><p>The FDA has approved four non-nutritive sweeteners — saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-K and sucralose.</p><p>When substituting sweeteners, remember to check the label directions or manufacturer's website for sugar equivalents, preparation tips and other specifications pertaining to that specific sweetener, according to research from the LSU AgCenter and USDA Center for Nutrition.</p><h3>What Do Dietitians Say?</h3>
<p>Diet quality suffers when intakes of nutritive sweeteners exceed 5 percent of total energy, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.</p><p>“Consumers can safely enjoy a limited amount of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners when consumed in a diet that is guided by current federal nutrition recommendations, such as Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Reference Intakes, as well as individual health goals,” the academy says. “Dietetic professionals should provide consumers with science-based information about sweeteners and support research on the use of sweeteners to promote eating enjoyment, optimal nutrition and health.”</p><h3>Pros and cons of using non-nutritive sweeteners</h3>
<p>Here are the benefits of using non-nutritive sweeteners:</p><p><ul><li>Can contribute pleasurable sweet sensations without increasing energy intake.</li></p><p><li>Do not increase the incidence of dental caries and may even prevent cavities.</li></p><p><li>Do not affect blood sugars.</li></p><p><li>Decrease calorie content to food.</li></p><p><li>Can be used in non-food items to make them taste more pleasurable.</li></p><p><li>Only require small amount to sweeten foods and beverages.</li></p><p><li>May aid in weight control.</li></ul></p><p>Here are some of the downsides of using non-nutritive sweeteners:</p><p><ul><li>They may cause an aftertaste.</li></p><p><li> Limited history of some means not all is known beyond the Accepted Daily Intake.</li></p><p><li> There is limited research on the safety during pregnancy.</li></p><p><li> Warning label is required on foods that contain aspartame.</li></p><p><li> Sweetener or sweet taste may increase appetite.</li></p><p><li> They may alter metabolism, which could lead to overeating.</li></ul></p><p>Evelyn L. Washington is a nutrition educator with the family-nutrition program at the Terrebonne Parish LSU AgCenter office, 511 Roussell St., Houma. She can be reached at 873-6495 or EWashington@agcenter.lsu.edu.</p>